Hey I’m currently preparing for my college audition process, but I’m struggling with song selection. I am a Bass and when I say bass I don’t mean baritone! My range is from B1 -D4 so I can go very low with a good sound. Are there any songs that you can suggest to perform? The lower the better! Also is it acceptable to transpose a song to a lower key for an auction? P.s if you know of any monologues for a black guy that would be appreciated :)! I’m applying to Syracuse University, Temple U, Point Park, Pace, JMU, AU, and Penn State! Thanks
Perhaps “Don’t Cry” from The Most Happy Fella? It sits pretty low, and I think it could definitely work being sung by someone our age.
Also - this doesn’t directly answer your question, but I highly suggest on taking a look at “The New Broadway Song Companion”. It’s a book that catalogs Musical Theatre repertoire by show, voice type, etc etc. You can flip to the back of the book and there is a section that lists song titles for your voice part. I have a copy of it, and it has been IMMENSELY helpful for finding material! They may possibly have it at your library, or you can find it on amazon (that’s where I got mine).
I think it’s OK to transpose as long as it’s in a key an accompanist could sight read w/o too much difficulty.
I can’t think of very many musicals where the rep is definitely Bass. I’m sure you’ve thought of " Old Man River" and " Some Enchanted Evening". Maybe " Bettet Far to Live or Die" from Pirates of Penzance? I know these are all older/ more legit. I agree transposing shouldn’t be a problem as long as you don’t change to an awful key for the accompanist.
Ideas…
Bass: Ballad
Traditional / Legit style
Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific
There’s No Reason in the World from Milk and Honey
I Will Follow You from Milk and Honey
If Ever I Would Leave You from Camelot
She’s My Love from Carnival
Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’ from Oklahoma!
This Nearly Was Mine from South Pacific
Bass: Uptempo
Traditional / Legit style
C’est Moi from Camelot
Where is the Life of Late I Led? From Kiss Me, Kate
There are also a few from Do Re Mi - a Jule Styne, Comden & Green musical - sung by the John Henry Wheeler character that might work. I’ve never seen the musical so I don’t know the character very well, but he sings beautiful songs in a lower register (John Reardon and Brian Mitchell Stokes have played him).
@College319
“I Won’t Send Roses” from Mack and Mabel- ballad, not necessarily age appropriate though
“Flair” and “Barbara” from Starting Here Starting Now- look at that show
“Move Toward the Darkness” from The Addams Family- contemporary ballad
“Lonely Room” from Oklahoma
“The Gun Song” from Assassins- could probably make a cut of the low stuff
“This Jesus Must Die” from Jesus Christ Superstar- might be able to tweak stuff and make a cut of that if you’re willing to let yourself do Andrew Lloyd Weber…
I think one of the leads in “The Mikado” (Gilbert and Sullivan) is a bass
Also, don’t be afraid to transpose. They know you’re young and don’t have an adult voice. They also hopefully know that Broadway has yet to remember that bass/baritones are truly the best.
Hope this helps!
(My S is a young baritone and did this post)
Some contemporary choices you could check out are:
“Rain” from Once On This Island
“Santa Fe” from Rent
“I Am Adolpho” from Drowsy Chaperone
“Don’t Be the Bunny” from Urinetown … though this may not be age appropriate.
“Orphan in the storm” is a good, age appropriate piece, from the musical “Celebration” It’s not overdone…
it’s perfect for a young “Bass leaning baritone”